(1) All copies of, and extracts from, registers or other records appertaining to any mine and all other information acquired by the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or by any one assisting him, in the course of the inspection ¹[or survey] of any mine under this Act or acquired by any person authorised under section 8 ¹[or section 9A] in the exercise of his duties thereunder, shall be regarded as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or authority unless the Chief Inspector or the Inspector considers disclosure necessary to ensure the health, safety or welfare of any person employed in the mine or in any other mine adjacent thereto.
     (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply to the disclosure of any such information (if so required) to--
         (a) any Court;
         ²[(b) a Committee or court of inquiry constituted or appointed under section 12 or section 24 as the case may be;]
         (c) an official superior or the owner, agent or manager of the mine concerned;
         (d) a Commissioner for workmen's compensation appointed under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923);
         ³[(e) the Controller, Indian Bureau of Mines;
         (f) any registered or recognised trade union;
         (g) such other officer, authority or organisation as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government.]
     (3) If the Chief Inspector, or an Inspector or any other person referred to in sub-section (1) discloses, contrary to the provisions of this section, any such information as aforesaid without the consent of the Central Government, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
     (4) No court shall proceed to the trial of any offence under this section except with the previous sanction of the Central Government.